Definition & Meaning of "dye coupler"

What is a "dye coupler"?

A dye coupler is a chemical compound used in color photography to produce color images on film. During the film development process, the dye coupler reacts with the exposed light-sensitive layers in the film to form specific dyes. These dyes correspond to the primary colors, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and combine to create the full range of colors in the final image. Dye couplers are essential in color film processing, allowing the captured image to be reproduced with accurate colors.